Mid-Century "Snail" Coffee Table by Vladimir Kagan
View Similar Items
Mid-Century "Snail" Coffee Table by Vladimir Kagan
About the Item
- Creator:Vladimir Kagan (Designer),Selig (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 14.5 in (36.83 cm)Diameter: 36 in (91.44 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Light scratches to the glass top consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Peabody, MA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU88801094686
Vladimir Kagan
The pioneers of modern furniture design in America in the mid-20th century all had their moments of flamboyance: Charles and Ray Eames produced the startling, biomorphic La Chaise; George Nelson’s firm created the Marshmallow sofa; Edward Wormley had his decadent Listen to Me chaise. But no designer of the day steadily offered works with more verve and dynamism than Vladimir Kagan. While others, it seems, designed with suburban households in mind, Kagan aimed to suit the tastes of young, sophisticated city-dwellers. With signature designs that feature sleekly curved frames and others that have dramatic out-thrust legs, Kagan made furniture sexy.
Kagan’s father was a Russian master cabinetmaker who took his family first to Germany (where Vladimir was born) and then to New York in 1938. After studying architecture at Columbia University, Kagan opened a design firm at age 22 and immediately made a splash with his long, low and sinuous Serpentine sofa. Furniture lines such as the Tri-symmetric group of glass-topped, three-legged tables and the vivacious Contours chairs soon followed.
Kagan’s choices of form and materials evolved through subsequent decades, embracing lucite, aluminum and burl-wood veneers. By the late 1960s, Kagan was designing austere, asymmetrical cabinets and his Omnibus group of modular sofas and chairs. For all his aesthetic élan, Kagan said that throughout his career, his touchstone was comfort. “A lot of modern furniture was not comfortable. And so comfort is: form follows function. The function was to make it comfortable,” he once commented. “I created what I called vessels for the human body.”
A diverse group of bodies have made themselves at home with Kagan designs. Among the famous names who commissioned and collected his designs are Marilyn Monroe, Gary Cooper, Andy Warhol, David Lynch, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, and firms such as Gucci and Giorgio Armani. His work is in numerous museum collections, including those of the Victoria & Albert and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Because of its idiosyncrasy, Kagan’s work did not lend itself to mass-production. Kagan never signed on with any of the major furniture-making corporations, and examples of his designs are relatively rare. As you will see from the offerings on 1stDibs, even decades after their conception, Kagan pieces still command the eye, with their freshness, energy, sensuality and wit.
Selig
As an importer and producer, the Selig furniture company helped popularize timeless and elegant postwar designs in the United States.
Selig created Danish-inspired chairs, sofas and other furnishings for the home that were cutting-edge, contemporary and airy. The brand was also among the first to introduce Scandinavian and European modern styles to Americans in the 1950s and 60s. The company imported and manufactured furniture known for its extraordinary design and style using high-quality, enduring and seductive materials.
Selig was founded in 1931 by Mandell Selig and Samuel Wexler. The pair started the business during the challenging economic times of the Great Depression prior to World War II. By the 1960s, under the leadership of Wexler's son, Robert, Selig peaked with manufacturing factories in five American cities.
Selig’s importing business had a meaningful impact on Italian furniture manufacturers. Wexler, the junior, had a hand in advancing and growing the manufacturing sector of the country’s Udine region. Due to this contribution, the Italian government saw fit to knight Robert Wexler with the title of “Cavaliere.”
After nearly four decades of influencing seating and lounging preferences in the United States with sophisticated mid-century modern and Scandinavian modern furniture — including its own chrome rocking chairs and leather club chairs — Selig sold to Simmons, the mattress company, in 1970, thus dissolving. Much of what they produced and imported is still available despite no longer being manufactured, and many collectors seek original Selig furniture.
On 1stDibs, find an array of vintage Selig furniture that includes lounge chairs, armchairs, tables and more.
- Mid-Century Modern Broyhill "Cathedral" Coffee Table, Circa 1960sBy Broyhill BrasiliaLocated in Peabody, MAA "cathedral" coffee table by Broyhill Furniture from their Brasilia Collection circa 1960s. Legs were refinished by a previous owner in contrasting black lacquer.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsAluminum
- Regency Style Neoclassical Form Coffee Table by E.J. Victor FurnitureBy E.J. VictorLocated in Peabody, MARegency style neoclassical form coffee table in mahogany with handcrafted details, gilded accents, and a beveled glass insert. By E.J. Victor Furniture of North Carolina, circa 2001.Category
Late 20th Century American Regency Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsGlass, Wood
$2,175 Sale Price24% Off - Signed James Mont Coffee Table Ca. 1940sBy James MontLocated in Peabody, MACoffee table signed "James Mont Designs". Mahogany top with contrasting lacquered base with fretwork legs in an Asian inspired style.Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMahogany
- Artist Made Murano Glass Tile Mosaic Coffee Table, circa 1970sBy Roger CapronLocated in Peabody, MAUnique artist made table of welded steel punch-cut blanks with a dazzling Murano glass tile mosaic, circa 1970s.Category
Vintage 1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsCut Steel
- Jacques Adnet Hermes Style Tromp L'Oeil Equestrian Strap Coffee TableBy Hermès, Jacques AdnetLocated in Peabody, MAA cocktail table featuring a trompe l’oeil framework of equestrian harnesses rendered in wrought iron, in the manner of Jacques Adnet for Hermes, circa 20th century. Glass top with r...Category
20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWrought Iron
- Low Floating Coffee Table in Acrylic with Brass Trim, circa 1970sLocated in Peabody, MALow coffee table with inset base which gives the top the appearance of floating, octagonal form in acrylic with a brass inlaid trim, circa 1970s.Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Vladimir Kagan Snail Coffee Table in WalnutBy Vladimir Kagan, SeligLocated in Brooklyn, NYFor sale, the iconic design, the snail table by Vladimir Kagan. Freshly refinished walnut spiral base supporting glass top with rounded edges. The perfect minimalist coffee table wit...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsGlass, Walnut
- Vladimir Kagan Snail TableBy Vladimir KaganLocated in New Haven, CTThis iconic design by Vladimir Kagan of his snail coffee table is handmade. Original unaltered walnut Veneer. Sold by Selig. The coffee table base is shown without the glass top. Not...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- Mid-Century Modern Radius Table by Vladimir KaganBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Port Jervis, NYExceptional and a beautiful table designed by Vladimir Kagan. Created from curved walnut panels connected by a polished chrome tri-star designed spoke. Glass is flawless.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsChrome
- Mid Century Modern Sculptural "Radius" Cocktail Table by Vladimir KaganBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Port Jervis, NYFabulous Radius cocktail table by Vladimir Kagan. Three sided curved walnut slabs connected by a chromed steel spoke. Glass top is 30" diameter. Hgt is 14.5 In excellent vintage cond...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
- Vladimir Kagan Propeller Glass Top Coffee TableBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Asheville, NCIndulge in the timeless allure of mid-century design with this exquisite coffee table designed by Vladimir Kagan and proudly manufactured by Selig in the United States during the 196...Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsGlass
- Early Walnut and Marble Curvy Coffee Table by Vladimir KaganBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Atlanta, GAAn early and rare model of curvy coffee table by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., circa 1950. Constructed from walnut and inset with a piec...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMarble
$6,800 Sale Price20% Off